He's at least 6 1/2 years old, perhaps older. One of his canines is broken and he's missing some grooming teeth. His fingers and toes are long and graceful. Sparse silver hairs peer out through a soft, white coat, suggesting he was probably once a silver panda turned dark-eyed-white. He moves slowly and stiffly, preferring sleep to rumbling with the youngsters. His name is Cupid, but we often call him Sensei, because he presents himself as the quiet, patient and wise teacher to the other ferrets. A very mature fellow, Cupid is a man's ferret and isn't down with mushy kisses or those silly games.
Even Rocky, the Alpha, respects this serious and independent guy. And just like the old martial arts master who sits in quiet meditation and sternly (yet lovingly) corrects his students when they become haughty, be assured that Cupid can kick some butt. To see it is pure amazement.
Cupid came to me last August, along with his best friend, Dave. I fostered these two for the rescue I volunteer for and fell in love. For my Christmas gift this past season, I was given the money to adopt Cupid and Dave. It was the best gift ever.
Sensei took to my husband right away and they've become buddies. He loves to play "foot" and steal dirty socks, which he will stash under my husband's desk in his office (I once counted THIRTY socks under there, no kidding). Cupid makes a nest of these socks and naps on them while my husband works at his desk. Thus, another nickname was created: "Cupid, the Sock Nest Monster".
(photo ~ Cupid is caught thieving hubby's sock)
Now, only after six months of having Cupid in our lives, he faces a big illness. Last week he collapsed and spaced out. He couldn't walk. Even though I've not had a situation like this before with any of my ferrets, I'd done enough reading and was taught by my friends at the rescue and I knew this was a sign of low blood sugar. I quickly rubbed a small amount of Karo syrup on his gums and he was better almost immediately.
I took him to the vet the next day and he was diagnosed with insulinoma. They prescribed prednisone to help stabilize his blood glucose. A day or so later, Cupid developed a terrible sounding cough and continued to be very lethargic. His breathing was labored. He stopped eating and drinking on his own and I resorted to hand feeding him Duck Soup and syringe feeding him water and Pedialyte.
We returned to the vet and, although his blood sugar level was good, they did an x-ray which showed fluid around the lungs. They gave him a shot of antibiotic, thinking that Cupid may have pneumonia. At this point I took Cupid to the vet he saw when he was in the rescue. She is an hour away from where I live, but she is vey knowledgeable about ferret medicine and I trust her totally. She read the x-ray I brought to her and told me that Cupid's heart is enlarged and the fluid is both in and around his lungs.
The vet prescribed him Lasix to help get the fluid off of his lungs and an oral antibiotic. She told me that she couldn't tell right now, but Cupid either has heart disease (cardiomyopathy) or lymphosarcoma in his lungs. We won't know until the x-ray is repeated in a few weeks and the fluid is reduced (hopefully).
It's been a day since we started the Lasix and antibiotic and I can tell Cupid is breathing easier and seems to be resting better. I haven't heard any more coughs. He still refuses food and water on his own and I have to coax him with every ounce of charm I have to get him to take it from me. I had a glimmer of hope early this morning when I got up at about 4 am and looked in on him. He was standing in front of his water bowl and he had eaten a few licks of the Duck Soup I'd put in his cage before bed.
When I went to get him up later to give him his meds and food, he was sleeping like a silly ferret: on his back and all twisted with his feet sticking up in the air. I realized that he hasn't slept in that position in a while.
After he ate, he stayed up and played in a sack, stole the insole out of my shoe and played with baby Milo. He seemed more like himself and I was so excited ! But, tonight he is back to the lethargy again. I am very worried.
I'm trying so hard to get him better. I want him to get better. I'm not ready to say goodbye. When I look at him, though, he just seems so tired and weary -- as if he is ready to go.
My heart is broken. Nothing lives on this earth forever. I just want more time with him. Just a little more. And it's important that I cherish every single moment with him now. Cupid teaches me that, all six of my ferrets do. Cupid has a sense of knowing. He told me with a small kiss (but it wasn't a mushy kiss or anything..).
